THE CAIRO CONFERENCE

The International Conference on Population and Development met in
Cairo, Egypt, from 5-13 September 1994. An estimated 20,000 government
delegates, UN representatives, NGOs and media representatives
descended on Cairo for the nine-day Conference and the parallel NGO
Forum. During the course of the Conference, delegates reached
agreement on the sixteen-chapter Programme of Action that sets out a
series of recommended actions on population and development, including
those that lead to sustained economic growth within the context of
sustainable development, protection of the integrity of the family,
combating HIV/AIDS, protecting the health of adolescents, and closing
the gender gap in education. The negotiations were not easy and there
were times when it appeared as though consensus would be impossible
on such controversial issues as abortion, sexual and reproductive health,
family reunification and the definition of the family. Yet, by the time the
last chapter was adopted and the last speech was given, thousands of
weary delegates, observers and NGOs agreed that in spite of some
difficult moments, the Conference was a success and the Programme of
Action, compared with earlier documents on population and development,
represents a "quantum leap."

The Programme of Action includes: a shift from the previous emphasis on
demography and population control to sustainable development and the
recognition of the need for comprehensive reproductive health care and
reproductive rights; strong language on the empowerment of women;
reflection of different values and religious beliefs; reaffirmation of the
central role of the family; and recognition of the needs of adolescents.

The Programme of Action contains the following chapters: I.
Preamble; II. Principles; III. Interrelationships between population,
sustained economic growth and sustainable development; IV. Gender
equality, equity and empowerment of women; V. The family, its roles,
rights, composition and structure; VI. Population growth and structure;
VII. Reproductive rights and reproductive health; VIII. Health, morbidity
and mortality; IX. Population distribution, urbanization and
internal migration; X. International migration; XI. Population,
development and education; XII. Technology, research and development;
XIII. National action; XIV. International cooperation; XV. Partnership with
the non-governmental sector; and XVI. Follow-up to the Conference.